Hello Kitty and Mikimoto join forces to celebrate the iconic cat's birthday in a collection of pearl jewellery debuted in Paris and Tokyo.

16 February 2014

Hello Kitty's boyfriend Daniel and her twin sister Mimmy step into the limelight in a new collection of jewels designed by Japanese pearl giant Mikimoto.

But it is Hello Kitty herself - and her iconic bow - that take centre stage in an extravagant yet playful collection of almost 20 pieces to mark the Sanrio character's 40th birthday.

Launched at Mikimoto's main store in Ginza, Tokyo, and the Parisian boutique Colette in January, the collection is currently being rolled out in stores around the world.

If a 12-strand Akoya pearl necklace depicting Kitty's face in diamonds, onyx and rubies wasn't enough, Mikimoto has created a tiara to symbolise the collaboration between the two Japanese companies. Twinkling in the centre of the 3D piece is the iconic cat fashioned entirely out of diamonds, with an oval-cut diamond for her face, claws for the whiskers and a pair of trilliant-cut diamonds for ears. Strawberry lockets on each side of the tiara open up to reveal portraits of Kitty and her rarely seen feline partner, Daniel. A one-off creation to celebrate the launch of the new collection, the tiara is intended to showcase Mikimoto's craftsmanship and is not for sale.

The design on the 12-strand necklace also appears on a pair of matching earrings, a choker-style necklace and a delicately curved hair clasp. The remainder of the collection focuses on Hello Kitty's trademark ribbon, as well as the yellow ribbon belonging to her twin sister Mimmy.

The ribbon is encrusted in pavé diamonds on White South Sea pearls on a pendant and matching earrings, while a more subtle choice would be the classic pearl necklaces, where it is depicted in the clasp design. A collection of pendants, earrings and necklaces with ribbons in blue, the store's signature colour, has also been designed for Colette in Paris.

With a fan base that runs into millions, these exquisite pieces are destined to become collector's items for Hello Kitty lovers all over the world.

The Mikimoto x Hello Kitty tiara displays a Hello Kitty fashioned entirely out of diamonds, including an oval-cut diamond for the face, claws for the whiskers and a pair of trilliant-cut diamonds for the ears.

The strawberries on both sides of the Mikimoto x Hello Kitty tiara are in fact lockets concealing the portraits of Kitty and her boyfriend Daniel. The tiara is a one-off creation and not for sale.

Brooches from the Mikimoto x Hello Kitty collection on display at Colette in Paris for the launch.

Mikimoto and Hello Kitty take centre stage at the launch of the Mikimoto x Hello Kitty collection at Colette in Paris.

The Mikimoto x Hello Kitty tiara displays a three-dimensional depth that is unusual for a tiara.

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